Rack for grocery carts



June 9, I959 I .J. AuTHoN `2,890,058

BACK FOR GRocERY cARTs Filed Sept. 2. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.|

INVENT OR. W W BY W JM June 9, 1959 J. cAu'rHoN 2,890,058

-\ RACK FOR GRocERY cARTs Filed Sept. 2, 1955 2 Shees-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.W M 1 2,890,058 Patented Junev 9, 1959 United States Patent Qfice RCKFOR GROCERY CARTS Jack Cauthon, Jackson, Mich., assignor, by mesneassignments, to Tote-'Cart Company, Chicago, Ill., a partnershipApplication September 2, 1955, Serial No. '532,195 6 "ClamS. (Cl. 280%3199.)

This invention relates to grocery carts and, more particularly, to arack adapted to be slidably attached to a grocery cart to provide anextended shelf to receive cartons and the like.

It is difficult, particularly for feminine users, to remove a heavycarton of bottled or canned goods from the -basket of a grocery cart forthe carton must be raised almost arm-pit high to lift it up and over thetop of the basket. vIf the heavy carton is placed yin the lower shelf or basket Of the cart, there is diflicult' in removing the carton sincethe space is tight under the upper lbasket and it is necessary to stoopvery low to try to remove the carton. It is desirable to supply somemeans which would obviate the necessity of lifting the carton so high or ;getting down on oneis hands and knees to remove 'the car-ton from thelower shelf.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide means which maybe attached to a grocery cart to provide additional storage space forcartons and the like which obviate the need for lifting the carton upand over the top of the basket or getting down on one's hands and kneesto remove the carton from the lower shelf of the basket.

An object of the present invention is to provide a rack for a grocerycart which may be easily removed from the cart and which may be slidablyattached to the cart to provide an extension when desired formingadditional storage space for cartons and the like.

A further object is to provide a rack for a grocery cart adapted to beslidably attached to the cart by hook members which permit movement ofthe rack longitudinally of the cart to provide an extended shelf foradditional storage space to receive cartons and the like. Other objectsof the invention will be readily perceived from the followingdescription.

This invention relates to the combination with a grocery cart having astorage basket and a storage shelf of a rack adapted to be attached tothe shelf to form an extension thereof thus providing additional storagespace for cartons and the like. The rack terminates in hook memberswhich fit about the frame member of the shelf permitting slidablemovement of the rack longitudinally of the cart and permitting the rackto extend rearwardly beyond the shelf to provide additional storagespace adapted to receive cartons, etc.

The attached drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of theinvention, in which:

Figure l is a view in elevation of a grocery cart provided with the rackof the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view taken on the line II- II of Figure 1illustrating the rack in extended position;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the rack;

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of the rack; and

Figure 5 is a view in end elevation of the rack.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a grocery cart 2 provided withthe rack 3 of the present invention. The grocery cart 2 includes theusual storage 'basket 4 mounted on a wheelcd framework and a storageshelf 5 placed below the basket. VShelf 5 includes a base memb'er 6supported on the framework of the vcart a frame or rail 7 in the form ofa bar extendng about 'the ba'se and spaced the'refrom and also supportedfrom the framework of the cart. Frame 7 serves to .prevent articlesstored on base 6 from falling therefrom. If'de'sired, the car 2 may beprovided with a child's seat as disclosed, for example, in 'copendingapplication Serial No. 520,863, filed July 8, 1955. i

V Rack 3 comprises a frame member 1,0 forming the 'sdes 11 and the rearend 12 of the rack. Preferably, the "side portions 11 are in the samehorizontal plane 'while the rear end V12 is turned upwardly to form aflan'ge 13 'ex tending in a plane other than the Plane of the side'portions 11. Flange 13 so Vforrned prevents articles falling from therear end of the rack. The rack includes a base 14 attached to the frame,base 14 fbeinjg formed preferably of a plurality of wires as shown.

Bars 15 extend across the 'base 14 from the side 'portions 11 and areattached to the 'base and the 'side portions. The terminal portion's 16of bars 15 are turned upwardly adjacent the side portions to formflanges 'which prevent articles stored on vthe rack Vfrom fallingsid'ewards from; the rack.

The terminal portions 17 of the frame are bent inwardly, downwardly,outwardly, and longitudially'of the frame to form hook members 18 whichfit over vthe lside portions of frame 7. In other words, the bentportiohs of the frame form sockets which 'receive the 'side portions offrame 7 to attach the rack to the shelf.

In attaching the rack 3 to shelf 5, a hook member 18 is fitted over oneside portion of frame 7, the socket formed by the bent Sections ofterminal portion 17 receiving the side portion of frame 7. The rack isthen moved forward on the shelf and twisted at an angle to slip theother hook member 18 on the other side portion of frame 7 securelyattaching the frame to the shelf. It will be observed that the rack isthen slidable along the side portions of frame 7. When the rack slidesrearwardly it forms in effect an extension of shelf 5 to receivecartons, etc. When the rack is slid to its rearward position it will beobserved that the rear end of frame 7 serves as a stop to preventfurther rearward movement of the rack. The rack may be easily retractedto rest over the shelf proper when it is not in use if desired.

While I have described a sliding rack it will lbe lunderstood that therack may be mounted to the cart in other ways if desired. For example,the rack may be lhingedly connected to the shelf if desired and swungupwardly in a clockwise 'direction when it is not in use.

The present invention provides simple and inexpensive means which may beattached to a grocery cart to provide additional storage space forcartons and the like thus obviating the necessity of lifting the cartonup and over the top of the basket or getting down on ones hands andknees to remove a carton from the lower shelf. Preferably, such meanscomprise a rack slidably connected to the cart so that it may be placedover the shelf when not in use although it may 'be hingedly connected ifdesired in order that it may be swung out of the way when not in use. Agrocery cart provided with the rack of the present invention hasenhanced storage space without interference with nesting of carts duringstorage. The slidable rack provides an extension for the shelffurnishing storage space for small cartons, etc., which is readilyaccessible to the user and which prevents stored articles from fallingduring movement of the cart.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it willbe understood my invention is not limited thereto since it may beotherwise embodied Within the scope of the following claims.

I clam:

,the framework; a substantially flat forwardly inclined shelf mountednear the bottom of the framework, said shelf having side rails rigidlyattached to the framework `and being'positioned abovel the plane of theshelf; and a rack slidably mounted lon said rails and including a fiatsubstantially rectangular base, the sides of the base extendingforwardly of the base and terminating in hook members adapted to reacharound and slidably engage the saidrails of the shelf' to permit therack to be pushed under the frame of the cart when the cart is nestedand to be pulled rearwardly `of the cart when the cart is unnested so asto provide a rearward extension of the shelf. 2. The cart of claim 1 inwhich the rack is provided with upstanding side and rear walls.

'3. The cart of vclaim 2 wherein the hook members are fformed by turningthe end portions of the rack sides inwardly,'downwardly and outwardly toform U-shaped `outwardly extending sockets.

I 4. In combination with a grocery cart having a storage basket and astorage shelf placed below the basket, Vthe shelf including a basemember and bar means extend- `ing about the base and spaced therefrom toprevent supyported articles falling from the base, a rack terminatingin'hook members fitting about the bar means to attach the rack to theshelf to form an extension thereof profviding additional storage spacefor cartons and the like, I said rack being removable and slidablelongitudinally of jthe bar means to provide the extension.

* 5. The combination according to clam 4 in which the bar means extendsabout the four sides of the base, the rear portion of the bar meansserving as a stop to prevent further rearward movement-of the rack.

6. In combination with a grocery cart having a storage basket and astorage shelf placed below the basket, the shelf including a base memberand bar means extending about the base and spaced therefrorn to preventsupported articles falling from the base, a rack terminating in hookmembers fitting about the bar means to attach the rack to the shelf toform an extension thereof thereby providing additional storage space forcartons and the like, said rack compn'sing a frame member forming twosides and the rear of the rack, side portions of the frame being insubstantially the same plane, the rear portion being turned upwardly toform a flange to prevent articles falling from the rack, terminalportions of the frame forming the hooks to secure the rack to a grocerycart, a base portion attached to the frame, and bar means attached tothe Vbase portion and'to the side portions of the frame, portions of thebar means adjacent the side portions being turned upwardly to formflanges to prevent articles falling from the rack.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,191,198 Kuhn et al. July 18, 1916 2,033,792 Sywert et al Mar. 10, 19362,466,36O Bitney Apr. 5, 1949 2,583,514 Maslow Jan. 22, 1952 2,615,726Brottman Oct. 28, 1952 2,662,775 Goldman Dec. 15, 1953

